"Many of these claimants literally do not have time to waste," the House members said in a joint statement.

Manhattan lawyer and fund administrator Sheila Birnbaum more than doubled program staff this year to 75, the report said. Insiders said she didn't add more staff because she was reluctant to cut further into funding intended for responders.

Like others frustrated by the pace, Feal said that fault extends from the administrators to the claimants' sluggish lawyers -- and even to responders themselves.

"Responders need to know that they had to get their records in," Feal said. "Some of them think this is going to be handed to them."

Birnbaum said the fund could make decisions "tomorrow" on the 871 eligible cases if claimants and lawyers completed their paperwork.

"We have continued to add personnel, but at this point we're not overwhelmed with the number of eligibility forms," said Birnbaum, acknowledging that she may add staff in the coming year.

Feal takes heart in the deadlines imposed by the law. Its first chunk of more than $800 million in funding must be paid out by 2016.

The deadline for claims related to 9/11 cancers, added late to the program, is next October.